Selecting system



Feb. 13,- 1968 A. E. RISTAU ETAL 3,369,086

SELECTING SYSTEM Fi led Feb. 17, 1966 s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.4

FEGJ

lN-VENTORS ALFRED G. RISTAU ARNOLD E. RISTAU RONALD E. BARRY Attorney ,1A. E. RISTAU ETAL 3,369,086

SELECTING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 17, 1966 Q 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

- INVENTO Y ALFRED G. RISU ARNOLD E. R ISTAU BY RONALD E. BARRY AttorneyFIGZ Feb. 13, 1968 A. E. RISTAU ETAL 3,369,086

SELECTING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet [5 Filed Feb. 17, 1966 INVENTORS ALFREDG. RISTAU ARNOLD E. RISTAU RONALD E. BARRY Attorney States Thisinvention relates to coin operated dispensing machines and moreparticularly to a selector device which is used to control the actuationof the coin and dispersing mechanism used in the dispensing machine.

Coin operated vending machines have been used to dispense practicallyany article that can be packaged. These machines are subjected to roughhandling particularly in the selecting device. As the number of objectsto be dispensed from the same machine are increased, the morecomplicated and delicate the selecting devices have become, and as aconsequence more sensitive to rough handling. As a result, the selectingdevice requires significantly more maintenance and replacement of partsthan any other system in the machine.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide aselecting device for a dispensing machine which has the electricalsystem isolated from the mechanical selecting device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a selecting devicefor a dispensing machine which is simple to operate and strong inconstruction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a selectingdevice for a coin operated dispensing machine which positively locatesthe selector button at the desired position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a selectingdevice for a coin operated dispensing machine which cannot be operateduntil the proper amount of money has been deposited.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide afail-safe selecting device which is not subject to damage throughimproper use by the public.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide aselecting device that positively aligns the electrical contact memberswith the selected circuit terminals.

These objects are accomplished by mounting a shaft for axial and rotarymotion in a selected panel, and a number of holes are provided in thepanel in a circle concentric with the shaft. An indicating disc issecured to the shaft to indicate the rotary position of the shaft withrespect to the holes and a locating pin is mounted on the disc inposition to engage one of the holes provided in the face of the panel.An electrically nonconductive disc quadrant is also secured to the shaftand has an electrically conductive member secured to the quadrant. Acircle of electric circuit terminations are mounted on the panel inradial alignment with the holes and an annular electrical contact memberis mounted on the panel inside of the electrical terminations. When theshaft is moved axially into the panel the conductive member willcomplete a circuit from the annual electrical contact to one of theterminals. Since axial motion is required to complete the selectedcircuit the shaft is normally free to be pushed into the panel. If thepin is pushed against the face of the panel it will damage it. Toprevent this a lock mechanism is mounted on the back of the panel toprevent axial motion of the shaft until the proper amount of money hasbeen deposited in the machine. Once the shaft has been pushed in to makea selection, it will be held in until the record is dispensed and thepin will prevent rotation of the shaft until after a cycle of operationis completed. With this arrangement it is impossible for anyone todepress the selecting knob and damage the selecting device.

3,36%,t86 Patented Feb. 13, 1968 Other objects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more readily apparent from the followingdetailed description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the selector panel.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the selector panel.

FIG. 3 is a side view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an electrical system which is used tocontrol the entire combination.

The selecting device discussed in this application is more particularlysuitable for use in combination with the record dispensing device shownin our co-pending application, Ser. No. 451,581 and the coin mechanismshown in our co-pending application, Ser. No. 480,358, now Patent No.3,318,427. It should be remembered, however, that the concepts of thisinvention are not limited to the particular dispensing system and coinmechanism shown in our co-pending applications, but can be adapted toother types of vending machines.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the selecting deviceincludes a panel having a series of holes marked 1-15 located in acircle concentric with aperture 16 in the panel. Each hole iscountersunk as shown at 18 to act as a guide as described hereinafter.An electrically non-conductive plate 14 is secured to the back of thepanel over aperture 16 and has a central aperture 12 that is coaxialwith the circle of holes. A number of electrical contact buttons 22 areprovided in a circle on the plate with each button lying on the sameradial lines as the holes 1-15. The electrical contact buttons are theterminations for a number of electric lines 21 which are connected tothe record dispensing devices by means of terminal block 23. Althoughonly a few of the lines are shown in the drawing, it should beremembered that there are as many lines as buttons on the panel. Acircular contact ring 25 is also mounted on the plate concentric withthe buttons 22 and is electrically connected to the power source by line27.

A support bar 34 is mounted on the back of the panel on posts 36 withthe support bar spaced from the panel. An aperture 32 is provided in thesupport bar in axial alignment with aperture 12 in plate 14. Shaft ispositioned in apertures 12 and 32 with selector knob 24, locating disc26 and electrical support quadrant 28 mounted on the end of the shaftprojecting from the front of the panel. Compression spring 38 ispositioned on the shaft between the plate 14 and quadrant 28 to bias theshaft outward from the front of the panel. Collar 40 is secured to theother end of the shaft and engages the support bar to limit the outwardmotion of the shaft from the front of the panel. A locating pin 39 ismounted on the inside surface of the locating disc at a radial distancefrom the shaftequal to the radial distance from the center of the shaftto the holes 1-15. A circle of numbers from 1-15 is provided on theouter edge of the disc spaced a distance apart corresponding to thedistance between the holes. An indicia such as arrow 17 is provided onthe panel to indicate the position of the shaft and disc and toinitially align the locating pin with one of the holes. On rotation ofthe selector knob to the desired location the knob is pushed inwardagainst the bias of the spring and if the pin is properly aligned withone of the holes it will move into the indicated hole. The locating pinis pointed at the end so that it will slide on the countersunk surfaces18 provided in the holes 115 thus assuring that the pin will properlyseat in the selected hole. The shaft and selector button is free torotate on its own axis and as long as the locating pin is maintained outof contact with the face of the panel, continued rotation will notdamage the selector. An electrical contact element 41 is mounted onquadrant 24 with one end 42 of the element positioned to engage buttons22 when the selector knob is pushed into the panel. The other end 44 ofthe contact element is positioned to slide on the surface ofelectrically conductive ring 25 when the selector knob is pushed inward.A circuit from the button to the ring will be completed each time theselector knob is pushed inward. The locating pin will properly align thedisc and shaft to assure that a positive contact is made between thecontact element 41 and one of the buttons and will prevent rotation ofthe selector -knob until the shaft is moved outward from the panel.

If the selector button can be pressed against the face of the panel whenthe machine is not being used, the 10- cating pin will damage the holes115 To prevent this from occurring, a mechanical stop 48 is provided onthe backside of the panel. This stop includes a solenoid 50 having anarmature 52 with a stop block 54 secured to the end of the armature. Atension spring (not shown) is used to bias the block against the shaft.A stop ring 58 is secured to the shaft in position to abut the blockwith the locating pin spaced from the face of the panel. When thesolenoid 50 is energized, the armature will be pulled away from theshaft until block 54 is out of the path of travel of stop ring 58. Theshaft will then be free to be moved into the panel. With this stoparrangement, the selector knob can be rotated freely at all times, butcannot be pushed against the panel until the stop solenoid is energized.

When the lock mechanism is energized to release the shaft for axialmotion, the selector knob can be pushed into the panel to make aselection. This completes a circuit from one of the bottons to ring 25.A mechanical holding system is then used to hold the shaft in thedepressed position to maintain the closed circuit and to preventrotation of the shaft until the selected item has been dispensed.Referring to FIG. 2, solenoid 60 is shown mounted on plate 62 on supportbar 34. Bar 64 is pivotally connected to support bar 34 by pin 66 and ismovable between a pair of guide plates 68. A spring 70 is secured to ascrew 72 at the top of plate 62 and to a pin 74 in the bar 64 to biasthe bar to an upper position. A second spring 76 is connected to pin 74and to the armature 78 f the solenoid. When the solenoid is energized,armature 78 will be pulled down, pulling spring 76 downward and at thesame time overcoming the bias of spring 70 on the bar so that the bar ispulled against shoulder 80 of collar 40. When the selector button isdepressed or pushed inward, collar 40 at the inner end of the shaft willbe pushed out from under the bar, allowing the bar to drop onto theshaft. This motion of the bar will depress button 82 in microswitch 84mounted on bar 34, closing a circuit to the coin dispensing system andcompleting the circuit to the dispensing system. The bar will drop offof the collar with a snap action thereby assuring a positive indicationthat a selection has been made and preventing further reciprocation ofthe selector shaft until after a product has been dispensed. After theselected item has been dispensed, solenoids 50 and 60 will bede-energized. This releases the tension of spring 76 on the bar andallows spring 70 to pull the bar upward. Once bar 64 clears shoulder 80of the collar 40 the shaft 30 will snap outward due to the compressiveforce of spring 38 action on quadrant 28. The armature of solenoid 50will be pulled against the shaft so that block 54 is in line with stopring 58. The selector knob is then free to be rotated to a new positionbut cannot be pushed inward.

A schematic showing of a circuit arrangement which can be used with thisselection device is shown in FIG. and will be used to explain theoperation of a dispensing machine. In operation, the selector knob isfree to rotate as long as it is not pressed into the panel. It is heldin the outer position by stop block 54 engaging stop ring 58. Once aselection has been made, the proper amount of money is deposited in thecoin mechanism 90 shown dotted in FIG. 5-. Five, ten and twenty-fivecent switches 92, 94, 96 respectively activate solenoids 102, 104 and106 when the proper amount has been deposited. Solenoid switches 108,110 and 112 are closed once the proper amount of money has beendeposited in the coin mechanism. Closing of these switches sets up thecircuits for the record dispensing system 114 and the timing mechanism116 both shown dotted in FIG. 5.

The circuits to lock solenoids 50 and 60 are closed when switch 108 isclosed. The selector knob can now be pushed inward until pin 39 seats inthe selected one of the countersunk holes 1-15. Lock bar 64 which is nowbiased downward on energization of solenoid 60 will drop onto shaft 30when collar 40 is pushed out from under bar 64 holding the selector knobin the selected position against the bias of spring 38. The elecericalcontact elements 42 and 44 will engage the selected button 22 and thecontact ring 25 respectively closing a circuit to one of the vendorsolenoids 118 in the record dispensing system through lines 21.Microswitches 120 are provided in each of the vendor solenoid circuitsand if the selected record dispenser is empty, the switch will beconnected to money return magnet 122 and will energize the magnet toreturn the money collected in the coin mechanism. If the selecteddispenser contains a record a circuit will be set up to the selectorswitch 124 which is closed when the selector lock bar 64 drops onto theshaft 30. This completes the circuit to the vendor solenoid the vendormotor 125 will start to rotate cams 126 and 128. As soon as cam 126starts to rotate switch 130 will close setting up a holding circuit forthe vendor motor. Switch 132 will also be closed by the rotation of cam126 actuating the counting meter 127, once in each revolution of thecam. Cam 128 actuates double acting switch to reset the coin mechanismonce in each revolution of cam 128.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed, it should be apparent that various changes and modificationscan be made herein without departing from the scope of the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. A selector mechanism for coordinating the actuation of one of anumber of product dispensers with a coin dispensing mechanism comprisinga panel, a shaft and means mounting said shaft for rotary and axialmotion in said panel,

a plurality of holes in said panel located in a concentric circle withrespect to such shaft,

an electrical circuit termination for each of said holes located on aradial line passing through the corresponding hole, each of said holesindicating the location of the electrical circuit on the panel,

electrical contact means mounted on the shaft for completing theselected circuit, locating means mounted on the shaft for engaging aselected hole in the panel when the shaft is moved axially into thepanel,

and holding means responsive to the energization of the coin dispensingmechanism to hold the shaft axially inward when a selection is made andreleasing the shaft for axial motion outward after a selection has beenmade.

2. A selector mechanism according to claim 1 including electricallyactuated stop means mounted on said panel and a stop ring secured tosaid shaft, said stop means being positioned to engage said collarwhereby said shaft is prevented from moving into said panel until thestop means has been energized.

3. A selector mechanism according to claim 2 including a switch meansfor said dispenser mounted on said panel and a collar secured to saidshaft, said holding means resting on said collar and dropping off saidcollar and onto said shaft to actuate said switch means when said shaftis depressed.

4. A selector mechanism according to claim 2 wherein each of said holesis countersunk and said locating means comprises a pointed type pinwhich will slide on said countersunk surfaces to properly align saidshaft with sitioned to actuate said switch means when the shaft theselected terminal. is pushed into the panel,

5. A selector mechanism for coordinating the actuation spring meansbiasing the holding means out of engageof a number of product dispenserswith a coin dispensing ment with said switch means, mechanism comprisinga panel, a shaft and means mount- 5 a solenoid connected to said holdingmeans to draw it ing said shaft for rotary and axial motion on saidpanel, into engagement with said switch means when the a plurality ofholes in said panel located a predetershaft is moved axially into thepanel, and stop means mined distance from the shaft, on said panel forpreventing axial motion of said locating means mounted on said shaft ina position shaft until the coin mechanism has been energized. to engagethe holes in said panel, 10 6. A selector mechanism according to claim 5wherein a number of electric terminals located on said panel each ofsaid holes is countersunk and said locating means in radial alignmentwith the holes and equidistance includes a pointed pin whereby thecooperation between from the axis of the said shaft, said pin and saidcountersunk holes assures proper alignelectric contact means mounted onsaid shaft for enmerit f th h f i ki a l ti gaging the electricterminals corresponding to the 15 selected hole in the panel,

a bracket mounted on the back of said panel,

switch means mounted on said bracket, and connected BERNARD GILHE ANYPrimary to the circuits for said dispensers,

shaft holding means mounted on said bracket and po- 20 R. L. COHRS,Assistant Examiner.

No references cited.

1. A SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR COORDINATING THE ACTUATION OF ONE OF ANUMBER OF PRODUCT DISPENSERS WITH A COIN DISPENSING MECHANISM COMPRISINGA PANEL, A SHAFT AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID SHAFT FOR ROTARY AND AXIALMOTION IN SAID PANEL, A PLURALITY OF HOLES IN SAID PANEL LOCATED IN ACONCENTRIC CIRCLE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SHAFT, AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUITTERMINATION FOR EACH OF SAID HOLES LOCATED ON A RADIAL LINE PASSINGTHROUGH THE CORRESPONDING HOLE, EACH OF SAID HOLES INDICATING THELOCATION OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ON THE PANEL, ELECTRICAL CONTACTMEANS MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT FOR COMPLETING THE SELECTED CIRCUIT, LOCATINGMEANS MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT FOR ENGAGING A SELECTED HOLE IN THE PANELWHEN THE SHAFT IS MOVED AXIALLY INTO THE PANEL, AND HOLDING MEANSRESPONSIVE TO THE ENERGIZATION OF THE COIN DISPENSING MECHANISM TO HOLDTHE SHAFT AXIALLY INWARD WHEN A SELECTION IS MADE AND RELEASING THESHAFT FOR AXIAL MOTION OUTWARD AFTER A SELECTION HAS BEEN MADE.